Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson Chooses England Over Finland, But Is He Really International Class?

After a superb start to the season for the Gunners, in which he has more than ably filled in for the injured Bacary Sagna, ex-Charlton full-back Carl Jenkinson, he of the remarkably small face, has decided to pledge his senior international future to the Three Lions.

With a Finnish mother and English father, the 20-year-old Jenkinson has represented both Finland and England at youth level. But now, after joining in on England training session to replace the injured Kyle Walker, Jenkinson has nailed his colours to the mast. England boss Roy Hodgson seems cook-a-hoop to get the youngster on board, saying:

“He didn’t take a lot of convincing. We had a problem with Kyle Walker and wanted a full complement in our training session, so we called Carl up. He was in my thoughts anyway.

“I invited him to train with us knowing full well he couldn’t take part in this game, but it gave me the opportunity to sit down and ask him the question.

“I don’t want to trick him to play for England in a few minutes in a game to block him, but he had to make a decision because we’re very interested in him, even if the competition is tougher to get him into the England team rather than the Finland team. He made it very clear he wanted to play for England.”

However, despite an impressive start to the season, is Jenkinson really ready for England? Admittedly, this isn’t the best England squad ever, but with the likes of Walker, Glen Johnson and Micah Richards (if and when he gets back in the squad), will Jenkinson ever be anything more than a back-up player.

With Finland, he’d no doubt be a regular from the off. So is he wise in choosing the Three Lions over the Three, er, Reindeer?

10 Responses to “Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson Chooses England Over Finland, But Is He Really International Class?”

You name three players as alternatives. One of whom is getting old and was never particularly good. One of them has had an absolutely diabolical season so far, after one impressive season. And one of them doesn’t play for his club, and seems on a deadend career wise. Jenkinson’s rise has been meteoric recently and who says he can’t attain it? In that form he is better than any of the three aforementioned players are at this moment…

You’re forgetting Martin Kelly, who actually went to the Euros, so there’s even more competition than you’re saying. That said none of the candidates are particularly stand out at the moment so who knows?

I don’t get it. This guy isn’t good at all. He’s being hyped up by Arsenal and the press due to their decent start. I don’t think he’s good enough for Arsenal or even Finland. The day will come when the bubble will burst and that’s the entire Arsenal defence I’m talking about. If they had another full back Jenkinson wouldn’t even get a game.

Regardless of ability (and I think he’s promising and likely to improve) it’s always good to bag a player early on whose allegiance could be for another nation. Other examples of this are Danny Welbeck’s debut to prevent him representing Ghana, and Jonjo Shelvey, who is also eligible for middle-earth.

Wasn’t impressed at all when he first came but can now honestly say it would be a tough call to drop him when Sagna gets back fully fit he defends well gets up and down but most of all he can cross the ball WAY better than Sagna the lads only 20 and players devolp differently some burn bright then fade away others get better with age i think he’s obviously the latter. long live cafu jenkinson